Race Previews

Brewhouse #37 Preview...Updated...

Saturday, 27 July 2024 00:10

37th BREWHOUSE TRIATHLON PREVIEW - We are expecting an awesome event to unfold this weekend at Island Lake. Here are our picks to set the pace at BH XXXVII on Sunday: 

Olympic Men - 

JOSH BLANKENHEIM - Josh set the men's course record --1:57:15--on BH's original Island Lake course, and he's returning to the event for the first time since setting that mark in 2019. He's been Duluth's numero un male triathlete since the retirement of Brian Bich a decade ago and we expect him to prevail on Sunday. A win would be his third on this course. So you know, the amateur men's record here is Jason Crisp's 1:56:49. Weather permitting, we predict that Josh will pop a sub 1:55 this weekend.

JASON CRISP - Jason wasn't on the registration list that Matt shared with us, but we'd be surprised if he didn't race. He's got a pair of 2nd place finishes this season and we predict that he will place 3rd on Sunday. We think he'll give Blankenheim and Spencer Syvertson a good push.

SPENCER SYVERTSON - Spence has upped his game this year, as he clearly demonstrated when he gave Preston Youngdahl a scare at Lake Minnetonka. We think he will give Blankenheim a similar race on Sunday, and like Blank, turn in a time that's faster than the current CR....UPDATE: Spencer torched the men's racerecord at Alexandria this morning (7/27)...

NATHAN BICH - The son of Brian Bich, Nathan is returning to triathlon after a half-decade. He turned in a solid performance at Trinona Olympic in June. There may be a spot in the Top 5 for him on Sunday.

Olympic Women - 

ELAINE NELSON - Like Crisp, she was not on the entrants list we perused, but we expect her to race on Sunday. Why? Because she's won this race eight of the nine times she's done it. It will not be as easy to repeat this year because she'll be facting fellow elite master Tiffany Kari Cizmas, who has been racing like a banshee in 2023 and 2024. We predict a close race, with muscle memory favoring Nelson.

TIFFANY KARI CIZMAS (photo) - Kari is coming off a win at Buzz Ryan, and her 4th place finish at Timberman Olympic was behind three national level--Rachel Werking, Heather Lendway, Elena Jasper--triathletes. She's never beaten Nelson, but as they say, there's a first time for everything.

Sprint Men -

MIKE WARD - Mike's won this race seven times and will be the clear favorite to collect his eight W on Sunday morning.

BETTINA KEPPERS - The 2023 Minnesota Master of the Year is a four-time BH Sprint champion. She's our clear pick to take the "amateur" title on Sunday. 

SHYANNE MCGREGOR - A two-time winner and course record holder here, Shyanne is racing pro this year. We expect her to finish first, of course.